U.S. Embassy in Mozambique: Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund for Community Development

Not-for-profit organizations that are registered in Mozambique, including civil society/non-governmental organizations.

Established, registered grassroots community-based organizations (CBOs) and Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) registered in Mozambique. FOR-PROFIT, COMMERCIAL ENTITIES AND INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.

The Embassy of the United States of America in Mozambique welcomes the submission of proposals for funding under the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) Fund. The SSH Fund assists Mozambican community organizations and groups to develop lasting, self-sustaining projects that benefit entire communities.

Purpose of Small Grants: In Mozambique, the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) program started in 1988 and allows the Embassy to respond quickly to local requests for small community-based development projects. The SSH program received a total of $2 million in 2021 to fund projects throughout Africa supported by Africa Regional Economic Support Funds.

 Program Objectives:

• Foster community self-reliance;
• Have community participation and contribution – volunteer time and labor, donated land, equipment and materials – and the U.S. contribution must be on a one-time basis only;
•  Improve basic economic or social conditions at the local community or village level;
•  Be viable and sustainable in terms of finance, personnel support, necessary expertise and services;
• Respect environmental norms for small projects; the proposed activity will not adversely affect protected or other sensitive environmental areas nor jeopardize threatened and endangered species and their habitat; and
• Not exceed twelve months in duration.

Some examples of past SSH grants include:

• Water Projects – boreholes, irrigation, or water collection systems, storage tanks;
• Health & Hygiene – latrines at schools and clinics, community gardens;
• Environmental Projects – recycling, solar panel systems, organic fertilization production;
• Education Projects – classrooms, community libraries; and
•  Income Generating Projects – oil press for nuts, maize milling facility, clothing production, carpentry tools, and brick making machines.

Performance Indicators

The project should monitor and report on performance indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable, and time bound. Establish, where possible, performance baseline data and expected performance targets for each expected result, and include details on what sources of data will be used to document performance, how the indicators will be measured, frequency of measurement, and units of measure. Where possible, indicators should also allow for gender disaggregation. Indicators should reflect key project outputs or outcomes that reflect on the primary goals or objectives of the project and that the implementer can collect with high quality data.

 All applicable indicators should be included in the proposal and subsequent to the award, routine, periodic reporting of all indicators will be required. The implementer will be responsible for quarterly reporting on each performance indicator included in the grant agreement as well as analysis of progress or impediments to reach indicator targets.  

Applications must have the following format:

• The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity
• All documents are in English
• All budgets are in U.S. dollars
• All pages are numbered
• All documents are formatted to A4 paper, and
• All documents are single-spaced, Calibri – 14 point font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.

Complete applications must include the following required documents:

 Mandatory application forms that must be completed and signed:

*These forms are available electronically via Grants.gov.

• SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – Organizations)
• SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs)
• SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) The SF-424B is required only for those applicants who have not registered in SAM.gov.

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